Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-16
LAST HOURS
OF Governor Joseph R. BodVell.
|HiS Death At Early 1ornins Sudden and
Without Pain.
|fhe Full Particulars Of an Event that
Carries Sorrow to Every Maine
Household.

No words could have created a greater o
more profound surprise than the dispatc
in the second edition of yesterdays Jourus
announcing the desth of Governor Bodwel
The reports of his physician the evcnin
previous had been most favorable, he, tn
Governor and his friends, expressing III
greatest encouragement. In conversation
with the Journal man yesterday DR.. Thomr
son said that "Wednesday had been one
the most, if not the most comfortable da,
the Governor had passed during hi
illness; he had eaten and slept well durin,
the day and his case looked more hopeful
During the evening however. when he agail
called he found the patient somewhat un
easy; he was restless; and yet his condition
was not considered at that time as indicatin.
anything more than nervous prostratioi
such as is frequent in cases Of similar nature
From an interview with his friends it wa
hscertained that the Governors restlcssnes,
continued till late at night. He was place,
in his chair frequently and while il
the chair obtained nearly all his sleep, h,
having, however, only two or three short maps
From three to five in the morning he SEPT
very quietly and easily in the chair. Jus
before five o'clock he woke and asked to b,
assisted to the bed. After he had been ar
ran paI N haI ha spnE. 4. t., his oanhayr william
Bodwell saying Il guess will have it'll,
beef steak this morning" His nephew sug
gested that he have brandy and milk instead
This the Governor refused. A few minute.
later he broached the subject of stimulus again
This time his brother Henry suggested brandy
!and water, but he again refused saying that
he preferred not to take either so long III
something else would do as we'll. A few
minutes later he cried out, "help me up
quick" and after pause, ''get me into tho
chair quickly" His brother and nephew
ysprang to his assistance, and raising him re
moved him from the bed to the chair; but
this time as never before he was helpless and
|t took all the strength of hi,
relatives to place him there
As soon as he was fairly seated his brother
started for restorative thinking that the
Governor had tainted, but he had no soonel
burned than he threw his head back and ex
pred. William Bodwell was the first Il
realize the truth and called to Henry Bod
well who returning, found his brother dead
He died without pain, not even u muscle Of
his face moving or a gasp escaping from him
There was no physician present, hi
Improved condition seeming not tt
demand the attendance of the young DIR
Thompson who had remained with him ever,
a night since he had been sick IL he had beer
in the house even he could have been of II,
assistance, so quickly did the Governor pas
away
The Governors illness has been very
peculiar. 1t has been very complicated, de
manding all the skill which a physician il
capable. DIR. Thompson said that when thu
Governor was first attacked at Brunswick
iepot, week ago Monday only the heroic
treatment of DIR. Mitchell saved his life
Beside the congestion of the lungs there has
been neuralgia of the heart, a disease whose
nature renders it the most difficult to control
ralgc attack, though there might have beer
at that time congestion of the lungs to quite {
degree. The doctor said further that the pa
tient had had no fever and that during the
last three or four days, no coughing, hence
there could have been no pneumonia
In speaking of the treatment of his patien
pretty powerful remedies. When he arrived
home from Brunswick so severe was thu
Governor's suffering that he was obliged t.
use ether to alay the pain. But at abou
IL O'Clock Tuesday noon the pain increased
10 such an extent that he was forced to ad
minister nitrite of amyl; he suffered tn
severest pain of all at this time. Iii
second attack of neuralgia of tn
heart occurred week ago yesterday
when similar measures for his relief were TAX
en-. "Snce that time" the doctor continued
the Governor has experienced nothing of tn
kind. He has gradually grown stronger---hi
stomach has grown stronger, his lungs bette
and he has progressed well in every respect
All felt much more hopeful and encourage
and the sudden termination of the patient
life was as sudden to us as TO all
When qestioned as to the immediat
cause of death, DIR. Thompson said, 81 vii
call it heart failure. 1t is quite probable tina
the congestion of the left lung---the right wa
but little diseased---was in the immediat
vicinity of the pulmonary artery and oriice
thus deeply affecting the heart. Beyond thi
I am unable to state more exactly"
In conversation with Gen. Tilden the Jou
nal man learned that for a month before th
attack at Brunswick the Governor was in r,
markably good health; he weighed about "a
pounds and was hale and hearty. He ha'
worked hard; his business was about all
well man could attend to he was Presider
of the Hallowell Company, the Milford Ian
and Lumber Company, the Boston and Ne
York Rapid Transit Company and was il
terested in granite quarries at VinalbaveI
the Bedford ranite quarry of Indiana, IL
Jonesboro granite quarry, the ice busine
and stock breeding. His principal busine
office was at Hallowell near the railroa
station. His business afforded employmel
DO thou sands Of workman and so far as h
home is concerned, is the life of the plac
Gov. Bodwell was cheerful man ane a
acknowledged friend to his employees for ea'
Of whom he had always pleasant word. II
own feelings we're never considered fir
! If he could show a favor to anyone he d
j SO even at inconvenience to himself. ]
was one who looked on the bright side
\ life too. "Only yesterday said Genel
Tilden II said to him as l called into t
sick room, Governor Bodwell you are loo
tng better, stronger" Eyes" he answer
sand am better, / will dictate the despat
to. Tell him have had a better d